The Downfall of a Good Girl (9 page)

“I’m not familiar with that song.”

Connor’s chin rested on her shoulder and his breath moved across her neck. “It’s just something I’ve been working on.”

“It’s beautiful.”

She felt his shrug. “It’s different. We’ll see how it goes over.”

“It’ll be a hit. Just like the others.”

“That’s the hope.”

“Hope? You’re Connor freakin’ Mansfield.”

“The public is fickle. That’s why there are so many one-hit wonders.”

He released her hands. One arm snaked around her waist, his thumb brushing lightly over the bottom of her ribs. The other went back to the keyboard where he started to play again, soft and slow. She recognized the top-line melody of one of his early songs.

“You never know when they’ll turn on you.”

Connor sounded…almost vulnerable. Worried. That was ridiculous. Why would he be? Or had the sordid and tawdry headlines affected him more than he allowed others to know? “Your fans love you.”

“They love an idea. An image. That Connor has little to do with me personally.”

“And who’s that Connor?” She was almost afraid to ask, but the quiet and the dark created an intimacy of the moment that lent itself to deep questions.

She felt his smile against her cheek. “Interestingly enough, I’d say it was the same Connor you dislike so much.”

That didn’t make sense. The arrogance, the swagger, the lady-killing charm. The confidence…She, too, had been reacting to that—negatively, of course—but now that they’d called their truce she was realizing and remembering everything else she knew about Connor. How kind he’d been to Lorelei when she was deep in her crush on him years ago. How serious he was about this competition—and not just to beat her. She thought shamefully about some of her own motivations. How hard he’d practiced, even amid the taunts
of boys more interested in touchdowns than Tchaikovsky. How ready he’d been to put the past behind them.

Had she been judging him unfairly? Using her own adolescent grudges and his recent notoriety to prevent her from seeing Connor as a person?

Connor was far more complex than she’d realized or given him credit for. Consciously at least. The fact none of this surprised her meant she’d known it all along and just refused to recognize it. Wow, she
was
shallow.

No
. Everything had been such a roller coaster since that closet door slammed shut, and in retrospect she’d gotten glimpses into Connor that had led her here tonight.
Great
. That just made tonight even more complicated. Maybe her subconscious was smarter than she gave it credit and that was why it had let her libido push her here. To force her to think. Damn it, she didn’t want to think. Wasn’t not thinking the whole point of
carpe diem?

Vivi put her right hand on the keyboard and tried to remember the notes Connor had played earlier. As she stumbled around Connor began pointing to the correct keys. After a few tries she had sixteen counts’ worth.

“Just repeat that phrase. Same tempo.”

Connor’s left hand began a much more complicated set, playing perfectly off her few notes, yet it was completely different than the earlier tune. It was incredible not only to witness but to be a part of. She played the last note, and Connor ended with a flourish.

She dropped her hands back into her lap and, surprisingly, Connor’s followed. He ran his fingers gently over her wrists and arms.

“That’s amazing, Connor.” She felt him shrug in response. “I mean it. I felt like I was actually playing something.”

“You were.”

“With help, though.”

“That doesn’t mean you weren’t part of it.”

But Connor was a solo act. Still, there was something wonderful about being inside his arms as he played. The sensation of feeling him create the music…It was silly, but she wanted him to play something else. She was about to ask when she remembered he was supposed to be resting his hands.

There was a slight pang of disappointment, but it was quickly routed when Connor placed a feather-light kiss on her neck. His hands moved from her arms to the buttons of her borrowed shirt, opening them and sliding inside to caress her lower stomach and tease her breasts. His movements became more focused, his thumb rasping across her nipple, wringing a gasp from her and causing her to grip his thighs for purchase. Vivi could feel his erection hardening against her back, and her breath picked up as his did. She arched, pressing her breast into his hand when a finger slipped between her legs and slid inside.

Just like that the switch was flipped, and Vivi’s focus narrowed sharply. She opened her legs wider, quietly demanding more, and Connor obliged, whispering encouragement between pressing hot kisses against her neck and shoulders.

With a groan, Connor turned her around, wrapping her legs around his waist, and leaned her back against the piano. Her elbows hit the keyboard, making an off-key chord, as Connor flicked the rest of the buttons out of their holes and spread the edges of her shirt wide.

A big hand slid up her torso, over her chest and neck, before circling around her nape to tangle in her hair. His eyes were hooded as he examined the freckles sprinkled across the tops of her breasts. A tug pulled her fully into his lap again, where the crisp hairs on his chest tickled her nipples as his mouth claimed hers. A surge of those powerful thighs
had him on his feet, and Vivi clung to him as he carried her back to the bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.

She had no idea what she was doing. It scared her not to know what this was. But it didn’t scare her enough to stop, because whatever this was, it was good. She’d sort out the rest later.

Connor had vague memories of Vivi kissing him as the first weak rays of sunshine began to lighten the curtains. He didn’t realize it had been a goodbye kiss until the alarm went off and he woke to find her side of the bed empty and cold. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of her sneaky departure, but since their first attempt at post-coital conversation had ended in her nearly walking out, he was almost relieved not to have to deal with the possible awkwardness this morning.

Almost.

Two hours later, he was seated between the director of the local humanities council and the director of an after-school program at a brunch meeting of the city’s non-profit organizations. His mom was seated across from him, but she was there in her capacity as the current chair of…something. He couldn’t remember which of the many organizations she was involved with. The broader purpose of the meeting was to discuss fundraising in general, but half the people in the room had known him since he was a child, which made this a little surreal, to say the least.

Vivi was about five chairs down, and other than a very quick greeting when she hadn’t quite met his eyes, they hadn’t spoken two words to each other. Everyone seemed very careful to keep them apart and refrained from talking to him about Vivi—which only took this to new levels of surrealism, because that
never
happened. But every now and then he heard someone say her name or heard her laugh. This
was Vivi’s element; she knew every single person here—as a contributing adult, unlike him—and she had probably worked with most of them at some point.

He might have been imagining it, but Vivi seemed to be avoiding him even more than usual. Either she was over-compensating, so as not to give away their activities of the previous evening, or she was having serious regrets. Either way, it irked him.

He kept half an eye on her, noting how she kept stifling yawns as the meal concluded. Once the mingling began, he eventually ended up close enough to actually speak to her—except that there were seven other people standing with them. Vivi looked distinctly uncomfortable, and she’d probably bolt if given the opportunity. She still wouldn’t meet his eyes, and he was seconds from pulling her aside and finding out what the problem was.

But Dr. Robins, the head of an inner-city free clinic, put a stop to that plan. “So, how was last night?”

It took Connor a second to figure out what the man was talking about. Damn, the jazz cruise seemed like it had happened
days
ago. “It was very nice. I haven’t done one of those riverboat cruises in years.” Seeing his opening, he turned to Vivi. “What about you? Did you enjoy yourself last night, Vivi?”

The mimosa in Vivi’s hand sloshed dangerously close to the rim as she jumped, but she recovered quickly. She shot him a warning look. “I did, thank you. Very much.” Then the corner of her mouth twitched. “It’s funny. I wasn’t sure that I would, but I was very pleasantly surprised.”

It was very hard to keep his amusement in check and his face neutral. “Glad to hear it. You left so quickly once we docked I wasn’t sure.”

“I was tired and wanted to get home. Plus, I didn’t want Lorelei to wonder where I was.”

That made sense. Since none of the people around them understood the subtext, he decided to push a little harder. “It was quite a busy evening, wasn’t it? So many different things happening. What was your favorite part, Vivi?”

Her cheeks turned a little pink. “There’s so much to choose from. But you’re quite good on the piano, and I found myself enjoying that more than I thought I would.”

He was going to ask her something else, but a woman he didn’t know spoke first.

“You played for the guests last night? How wonderful for them.”

Great
. Vivi shot him a smile that told him she’d done that on purpose. “Just a couple of songs to help the party along.”

“There’s a piano here. Maybe you could play for us?”

Vivi answered before he could. “He can’t.” All eyes swiveled in her direction.

She wouldn’t
. “Vivi…”

“It’s not fair, Connor.” Her voice took on that clipped, chilly tone he knew so well. “You have this great talent, and it makes me look me look bad when you keep showing off like that.” She turned to the crowd. “I’m doing everything I can to keep up as it is. He has an unfair advantage, you know. Don’t encourage him.”

He wanted to kiss her. She could have let him try to get out of it himself, but she hadn’t. Vivi was actually watching his back. An unfamiliar feeling spread through his chest, and as the conversation turned, he smiled his thanks at Vivi. She nodded.

Vivi was pulled away a moment later by her mother, and when the event finally broke up a little while later, Vivi was nowhere in sight. That irritated feeling returned. Could he have misread or misunderstood something? He didn’t like that idea.

“Mr. Mansfield?”

Connor turned to find a pretty hostess flashing a flirtatious smile at him.

“You had a phone call earlier. A Miss White left a number for you to return her call.” She handed him a piece of paper and her brow wrinkled in confusion. “It’s strange. I think she said it was about piano lessons, but that just seems crazy considering…well, who you are.”

Heat rushed to his groin at the mention of “piano lessons.” “Thanks. It makes sense to me.”

He put his mother into a cab in almost unseemly haste, and started walking the six blocks back to the Quarter, dialing as he walked. Vivi answered on the second ring.

“You are terrible, Connor Mansfield.”

“Where are you?”

“The gallery. I couldn’t stay at the brunch. Between Madeline Jensen’s upset that I wouldn’t let you play and the fact you seemed to be doing your best to embarrass me…”

“That’s what you get for sneaking out before I woke up.”

“I was hoping it would be less awkward that way.”

Vivi didn’t seem to be feeling that awkwardness now. “And avoiding me?”

“Self-preservation.”

“You are hell on the ego, Vivi.”

“I think your ego can handle it. So…” She trailed off, and the silence was so complete he wondered if the call had been dropped. Then he heard her clear her throat. “So what happens now?”

The awkwardness was back. He’d never heard her sound so hesitant. “I thought you wanted piano lessons.”

There was another of those long silences, and Connor wondered if he’d said the wrong thing. Then he heard her laugh softly.

“Yeah. I think I’d like that.”

A
T THE
one-week mark he and Vivi had been running neck-and-neck in the fundraising. Well, once he counted his matching her funds plan, at least. Early in week two Vivi had pulled ahead by landing a couple of corporate sponsors on her side, but one message on Twitter pulled him back into the lead. That trick had earned him an earful from Vivi, but Vivi’s tongue had lost a bit of its sting these days.

In a way he missed the battle of wills and wits, but while the tone had changed, Vivi still kept him on his toes. She was the first to call him on things, but also the first to give credit and accolades. She could be hell on his ego when she took him down a peg, but things were different now.

When it came to the actual challenges, like today’s work for the food bank, Vivi was definitely kicking his butt. She could organize people like a pro, and her team always ran with easy efficiency while he looked like he was trying to herd cats.

It was almost embarrassing, but he could take it. Everyone had their strengths and areas of expertise, and no one could touch Vivi when it came to any aspect of volunteer work.

Two weeks ago he would have had something snarky to say about that, but now…He didn’t have to admit to grudging admiration for Vivi’s talents. He could just be impressed by them. Vivi was completely focused and no-nonsense, but
she had a way of getting work and money out of people and leaving them thinking it was all their idea.

Now,
that
was a talent. And, as he was discovering, Vivi had many interesting talents.

After that initial awkwardness the day after, Vivi had slowly warmed to the new status quo. She wasn’t openly advertising that change, but even the bloggers had picked up on what they called an “easing of hostilities.”

If they only knew…

Connor felt better than he had in months. He might not be getting a lot of sleep, thanks to Vivi, but otherwise he was feeling grounded and sane and normal—and that probably had something to do with Vivi as well. It should feel stranger than it did, and that was strange in and of itself.

He caught Vivi’s eye across the room, and she gave him a half-smile before looking at his untidy piles of unfinished work and raising her eyebrows. “How’s it going over there?” she called.

“Perfectly.”

She shook her head. “Doesn’t look like it.”

“It’s like walking into the middle of major surgery. It looks like a bloody mess, but it’s all under control.”

“Glad to hear it. I just hope you get it finished today.”

So did he. However, it might end up like their workday in the Lower Ninth Ward where Vivi’s team had finally had to come help his under the mercy rule. He turned around and gave a few encouraging shouts to his Imps and was gratified to see them pick up the pace. Then he jumped a pile of canned green beans and walked over to her.

“How do you manage it?”

“They’re kids. They need clear, specific instructions.” She dropped her chin and gave him a look that would have done the nuns in high school proud. “And a good example to follow, I might add.”

“Hey, I’m working my butt off over there.”

Vivi just shrugged. “After we’re finished here I’ll send a few of the Cherubim over to help.”

“Much appreciated.”

“Well, y’all will be here until midnight if I don’t.”

“We definitely don’t want that.” At her look, he dropped his voice and added, “I was kind of planning on taking you to dinner tonight. I got reservations at LaSalle.”

Vivi looked suitably impressed. “LaSalle is booked out for months.”

“Fame has its perks. Table reservations is just one of them.”

Vivi looked uncomfortable. “Isn’t that rather public?”

“It’s less public than this.” He pointed to the cameras and the crowds.

“This is different.”

“Ashamed to be seen with me or something?” he challenged.

“No, that’s not it. I just didn’t know that we…it…
that
…was for public knowledge. I thought we were staying low, under the radar.”

Ah
. “You like sneaking around?” He liked her discretion. It was a nice change from the view-all, tell-all of celebrity relationships. Or maybe Vivi had a streak in her he didn’t know about that enjoyed the game. He could get behind that, too.

“That’s not it either. It’s just…” She trailed off and frowned.

“It’s just…?” he prompted.

Vivi sighed and shrugged. “Dinner sounds great. What time?”

“Seven. I’ll pick you up.”

“No, I’ll meet you at your place.” At his look, she added,
“I need to run by the gallery, so I’ll do that on my way.” She added a smile. “I’ll see you at seven.”

She went back to work, leaving him feeling a little off-kilter. Vivi wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met, that was for sure. He was quickly discovering, however, that that wasn’t a bad thing. It sounded cheesy, but Vivi brought out the Boy Scout in him. He found himself wanting to do the smaller things, like pick her up for dinner. It didn’t make sense. He snorted. When had Vivi ever made sense to him?

Connor turned around, fully intending to get this job finished as soon as possible, and he saw his Imps standing idle, watching him. “Who called a union break? They’re killing us here.”

Before he could get anything accomplished, though, his phone rang. A glance at the number had him sighing. He really didn’t want to wade back into the fray today. He was enjoying the interlude from his life.

Balancing the phone uncomfortably on his shoulder, he closed a box and strapped tape across the top. “What’s up, Angie?”

“I’ve got excellent news.”

His agent wasn’t one to exaggerate, so whatever it was it had to be damn good. “I like excellent news.”

“In light of the paternity test results, the plaintiff’s counter suit has been dismissed and we have our permanent injunction.”

“And in simple English that means…?”

“Katy Arras has been told to shut her lying trap.”

“That
is
excellent news.”

“Thought you might like that. In other good news, thanks to your current charity work and some internet search engine magic I don’t understand, all that dirt is now buried on page two and beyond. It’s pretty much over.”

The dirt would never be completely washed away, but
he’d settle for it being lost on the internet. He might be personally vindicated, but people would still mutter about the rumors behind his back, wondering how much was really true. Those kinds of stories stuck around forever, becoming urban legends and the butt of jokes.

At least he wasn’t the first. He was in company with some of the greats. “You are a doll, Angie”

“That’s why you pay me the big bucks. How are you holding up down there?”

“I’m home, not exiled to Siberia.”

Angie, who considered the suburbs too rustic to visit and New York the only city outside California worth acknowledging, snorted. “Well, keep hanging in there. You’re getting all kinds of good press.”

“And I’m having a good time, too.”

“Good for you. Just don’t have
too
good of a time. One Katy Arras a year is my limit.”

“Don’t worry. I’m being a good boy.”

That caused Angie to chuckle. “Well, don’t take that too far either,” she warned. “Remember your brand.”

“How could I forget it?” He didn’t bother to hide his exasperation, but Angie ignored it.

“I’ll be in touch next week. I’ve got some plans cooking for March and April. When are you planning to go back into the studio?”

“Don’t know yet. The brain is still recovering from the tour.” Angie didn’t know about his hands, and he saw no reason to go into that now. She was still reeling from hearing about all of his plans that didn’t involve going back into the studio.

“Keep me posted.”

“I will. Right now I have boxes to pack.”

“Oh, yeah, that charity stuff. Good for you. Keep it up.”

He could almost hear the dismissive wave. Beyond the
PR op, Angie didn’t have much use for this, and that irked him as well. He snorted. He really was finding his inner Boy Scout.

“By the way, I’m coming down there for Mardi Gras,” she added.

“Good luck finding a hotel room.”

“I can’t just stay with you?” she teased.

That would make things very awkward with Vivi. “In a word, no. In two words, hell no. I like my privacy.”

“That’s typical of you. Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll make some calls. I do know other people.”

“I’ll be happy to point you in the right direction for whatever you want to do once you’re here,” he offered.

“That I’ll take you up on. Talk to you later. ‘Bye.”

Connor stuck his phone back in his pocket. He didn’t really want to think about March or April or going back into the studio. He’d given Angie unfettered access to his schedule for the last six years, and while he appreciated her efforts on his behalf, he’d made them both enough money for him to take a little control back. Of his name, his time, his image and his freakin’
brand
.

He wasn’t ignorant of the fact that this new desire for control and his current frustration with the status quo were probably fueling his situation with Vivi. It wasn’t just lust—although that did help, he thought with a small smile—it was a whole new approach to his life. The solid confirmation of that knowledge sent a mini-shockwave through him. He hadn’t known he had it in him.

How novel.
I’m growing as a person
. Vivi would have quite a bit of fun with that. In fact he might have to mention it, just to see what she’d have to say about it.

True to her word, Vivi and her crew came over to help his team finish up—but true to her nature she waited until they’d conceded defeat and the points were added to her
column before she did. And when she shot him a smile full of secret promise Connor was very glad he’d come home.

All of his choices seemed to be working out quite well.

Vivi slid her feet into her shoes and opened her bedroom door. Lorelei stood against the wall, facing her door, arms crossed over her chest. “Spill.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’ve kept my mouth shut all week long about your late nights and lack of details—”

“And it’s been bliss.” Vivi stepped past her, but Lorelei ignored the hint and followed her into the living room. This wasn’t exactly how she’d planned to tell Lorelei about the rather dramatic shift in her life, but Lorelei hadn’t been home much and time had gotten away from her.

“But now you’re all dressed up. Your new snuggle monkey is finally taking you out on the town, huh?”

She raised an eyebrow at Lorelei.
“Snuggle monkey?”

“It wasn’t my first choice of term, but the others were more vulgar and would have gotten you mad at me. I know you’re having sex, and I’m dying to know who with.”

“Like
that’s
any of your business.”

“No, I think it’s great. You’re all glowy and relaxed. Not only are you having sex, you’re having some
awesome
sex.”

Vivi couldn’t stop the blush. She tried to hide it by turning away, but Lorelei saw and pounced.

“Whoa!
That
good, huh? I have to know the identity of this sex god.”

This was not exactly how she’d pictured this conversation. Vivi searched for words, but Lorelei took it as hesitation.

“If he’s taking you out tonight, it’s not exactly a secret affair, you know.” She paused and her eyes narrowed. “Oh, God, unless…He’s not married or anything, is he?”

“For heaven’s sake, Lorelei, of course not.”

“Well, it
would
explain all the secrecy.”

Vivi took a deep breath. “I’m going out with Connor.”

“Connor who?”

“Mansfield. How many other Connors do you know?”

Lorelei looked disappointed. “Well, I read that all wrong. I didn’t realize you had a Saints and Sinners thing tonight.”

“I don’t.”

“Then why are you going to dinner with Connor?”

Either Lorelei was very dense, or this news really was too incredible to believe. “Because he asked me to.”

Lorelei’s eyebrows knitted together. “This makes no sense. My world is officially askew. You’re not planning on dumping his meal in his lap, are you?”

“It’s not on the agenda, no. And I’d never make a scene like that at LaSalle.”

“LaSalle?
Wow
. Hang on. All these late nights and now…” The furrow on her brow deepened, then her eyes grew wide in shock. “Wait.
Connor
is your secret snuggle monkey?”

Oh, Lord
. “Lorelei…”

Lorelei rose to her feet, blinking and shaking her head. “You’re sleeping with
Connor?
”

“Lorelei…”

Her voice rose to a shout. “You’re having
sex
with Connor Mansfield?”

“Let’s not announce that to the entire neighborhood, please.”

“Oh, my God, you
are
sleeping with him. Oh. My.
God. When
did this start? How? Why? I need lots of details.”

Vivi didn’t feel like sharing details at the moment, and she certainly didn’t have good answers to
how
or
why
. It made her head hurt to make sense of it. This was new territory, and it kind of freaked her out when she thought about it too much.

She made a point of looking at her watch and picking up her purse. “I’ve got to run.”

Lorelei snatched her purse out of her hand. “Oh, no, you don’t. You’re not dropping a bomb like that and then prancing out of here like it’s nothing.”

“Give me my purse.”

“Give me some answers.”

“This is not your business. I don’t owe you any answers about anything.”

“I’ve spent my entire life listening to you complain about Connor and how he makes your existence miserable—so, yeah, you do owe me some answers now.”

Oh, how she wished she had answers to give. “Connor and I have…um…resolved many of our differences—”

“I should certainly hope so.”

Argh
. “And we are…um…moving past old grudges and…um…moving forward as adults.”

“By knocking boots.”

“Must you be so crude?” Lorelei made it sound tawdry. Maybe it was. Vivi just didn’t want to think so.